Skill-type game

ABSTRACT

A skill-type game which comprises motive means for propelling objects outwardly therefrom at random intermittent intervals in a plurality of angular directions toward a plurality of receiving positions disposed angularly about the motive means. The receiving positions have gates normally blocking the entrance thereto and the gates are selectively movable by a player to open the entrance to the receiving positions in an attempt to &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;catch&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; the propelled objects.

I United States Patent Breslow Feb. 22, 1972 [54] SKILL-TYPE GAME [72]Inventor: Jeffrey D. Breslow, Chicago, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glas & Associates [22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1969 [21]Appl. No.: 865,288

[52] 273/11911, 273/111,273/l29 [51] ..A63d 3/02 [58] Field ofSearch..273/108,l11, 115,116,119, 273/121,127, 129, 123

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,064,978 11/1962 Burch..273/1l9 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 400,093 10/1933 GreatBritain ..273/119 R 381,521 10/1932 Great Britain ..273/l19 R 425,7463/1935 Great Britain ..273/1 19 R Primary Examiner-Anton O. OechsleAssistant Examiner-Theatrice Brown Att0rney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen,Stellman & McCord [57] I ABSTRACT A skill-type game which comprisesmotive means for propelling objects outwardly therefrom at randomintermittent intervals in a plurality of angular directions toward aplurality of receiving positions disposed angularly about the motivemeans. The receiving positions have gates normally blocking the entrancethereto and the gates are selectively movable by a player to open theentrance to the receiving positions in an attempt to catch the propelledobjects.

12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENTEnrwaz I972 3, 643.955

52$ 2 H a I mvEN'foR BmWmm am TORNEYS SKILL-TYPE GAME BACKGROUND ANDSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a skill-type gamedesigned for the entertainment of the player, particularly children, andfor developing dexterity and cooperation for the individual player aswell as competition between a plurality of players.

There are various entertaining skill-type games presently availablewhich have projectiles or the like which are projected toward for theprojectiles, and normally having means for scoring the game. Still othergames have objects which are propelled toward home or receivingpositions randomly spaced and variably scored to provide an entertaininggame, but which is played solely on the principle of change. The game ofthe present invention is a skill-type game wherein the objects orprojectiles are propelled in random intervals toward receiving or homepositions, and wherein a degree of skill is required by a player so asto catch the object at his home or receiving position.

An object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a game ofthe character described which includes motive means for propellingobjects outwardly therefrom at random intermittent intervals toward areceiving position spaced outwardly from the motive means and in thepath of the propelled objects. A blocking means normally is positionedbetween the motive means and the receiving position to prevent theobjects from entering the receiving position. Means are providedoperable by a player to selectively move the blocking means out of itsblocking position to permit the objects to enter the receiving positionas a player attempts to catch the propelled object.

Another object of the invention isto provide a game as set forth in thepreceding paragraph wherein the motive means propels objects outwardlytherefrom in a plurality of angular directions at random intermittentintervals toward a plurality of receiving positions (and associatedblocking means) disposed angularly about the motive means at equalspacing therebetween and equidistant from the motive means.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the motive means comprisesa rotating member which projects the objects outwardly therefrom by acombination of collision with the objects and centrifugal force. Therotating member has a tortuous path along which the objects arepropelled so as to enhance the random capabilities of the motive means.

In the form of the invention shown herein, a generally flat, horizontalbase portion mounts the motive means generally centrally thereof andalong which the objects are propelled. The'receiving positions aredisposed on the base member about the motive means and the blockingmeans comprise gate members pivoted on horizontal shafts and disposedbetween the motive means and the receiving positions. The gate membershang by gravity from their respective horizontal shafts and the shaftshave extension portions for grasping by players to rotate the gates tounblock the receiving positions in an attempt to catch the randomlypropelled objects. Preferably, the base portion is slanted downwardlyfrom the receiving positions toward the motive means so that the objectsreturn to the motive means if blocked by the gate members.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a skill-typegame embodying the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, partially cutaway and on an enlarged scale,of the game shown in FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 3- 3 ol'FlG.2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The embodiment of the inventionshown in the drawings includes a flat, generally horizontal, irregularlyshaped base portion, generally designated 10, which is supported above asubjacent supporting surface by an annular base rim I2 (FIG. 3). Anupstanding peripheral wall 14 extends vertically upwardly from the baseportion 10 about the entire marginal edge thereof. The irregularlyshaped base portion 10 and upstanding wall 14 define a plurality (fourshown in the drawings) of home or receiving positions, generallydesignated 16, which are equally spaced about and equidistant from amotive means, generally designated 18, disposed generally centrally ofthe base portion 10. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter,the base portion 10 defines a surface 20 (FIG. 3) along which objects 22(shown as marbles or the like in the drawings) are propelled by themotive means 18 outwardly therefrom toward the receiving positions 16.The upstanding wall 14 about the periphery of the base portion I0prevents the objects from being propelled away from the playing areadefined by the surface 20 of the base portionl 0.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the motive means 18comprises a rotating member which propels the objects 22 outwardlytherefrom toward the receiving positions 16. The motives means shown inthe drawings includes a generally horizontal disc shaped portion 24having a central cylindrical-shaped hub portion 26 which is disposedover and receives a spike-shaped pivot rod 28 which extends upwardlyfrom the center of the base portion 10. The lower portion of the hub 26and the pivot rod define bearing surface portions 30 to facilitate easeof rotation of the disc portion 24 and to maintain the disc portionsubstantially horizontal. The cylindrical hub portion 26 has anupstanding handle portion 32 which projects upwardly beyond the discportion 24 generally concentric with the axis of the pivot rod2 8 forgrasping by a player to spin or rotate the motive means and therebypropel the objects 22 outwardly therefrom, as will be described ingreater detail hereinafter. Depending from the underside of the discportion 24 of the motive means are a plurality of boss portions 34randomly spaced about the underside of the disc portion 24. As will bedescribed below, these depending boss portions 34 are caused to impactor collide with the objects 22 as the motive means rotates to propel theobjects in various directions until one or more of the objects arepropelled outwardly from the motive means 18 toward the receivingpositions 16.

Referring to FIG. 2, the random orientation of the impacting bossportions 34 are shown and their direction of movement, as the discportion 24 rotates in the direction of arrow A, are shown by the dottedarrows B. It thus can be seen that the rotating movement of the bossportions 34 define a tortuous path beneath the disc portion 24 along orbetween which the objects 22 are propelled until the objects, totally atrandom and at intermittent intervals, are projected outwardly from thecenter of the base portion 10 toward the receiving positions 16.

An upstanding rim 36 may be disposed about the handle portion 32 of themotive means, with a hole 38 in the disc portion 24 within the annularrim 36 so that a player may drop an object 22 through the hole as themotive means is rotated to load another object into the motive means forpropulsion toward one of the receiving positions.

Preferably, the top surface 20 of the base portion 10 is slanteddownwardly from the receiving positions 16 toward the center of the baseportion 10 (as best seen in FIG. 3) so that the objects 22 return to themotive means if they are not caught" at the receiving positions '16, asdescribed below.

Each receiving position 16 normally is blocked by vertical gates 40which-are fixed to and depend downwardly from pivot shafts 42 which arejoumaled in the upstanding wall I4 in front of each receiving position16 between the receiving position and the motive means 18. The pivotshafts 42 each have extension portions 42a for grasping by a player torotate the gates upwardly to unblock the receiving positions 16 in anattempt to catch an object which is propelled toward the receivingposition.

Each receiving position 16 may be provided with means for scoring thegame and, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, an outwardlyextending flange 44 is mounted to top of that portion of the wall 14which bounds the respective receiving position and the flange isprovided with a plurality of holes 44a for receiving a peg 46 which maybe moved about the flange in the various holes with the holes being usedto score the game.

In playing the game, one or more objects 22 are placed beneath the discportion 24 of the motives means at the center of the base portion eitherthrough the hole 38 or around the underside of the disc portion 24. Aplayer then grasps the handle portion 32 of the motive means and rotatesthe disc portion 24 whereby the innermost impacting boss 34 (as seen inFIG. 2) impacts an object and starts the object to bounce back and forthwithin the tortuous path defined by the rotating bosses 34. Eventuallythe object will be propelled outwardly toward one of the receivingpositions 16 and the player must pivot the respective gate 40 upwardlyso as to permit the propelled object to enter the receiving position.Additional skill is required when a player has caught his first object22, as shown at the receiving position in FIG. 3. He then must hold thatobject at the receiving position (because of the tendency of the objectto roll down the slanted surface 20 of the base portion 10) and not openthe gate until the last instant to catch a second, third, and so on,object propelled by the motive means 18. If the player holds the gateopen too long, his previously caught objects 22 will escape from hisreceiving position and his score is reduced.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in theart.

Iclaim:

l. A skill-type game comprising a board including motive means forpropelling objects outwardly therefrom at random intermittent intervals,means defining an object receiving portion on said board which is spacedoutwardly from said motive means and in the path of the propelledobjects, said portion being inclined downwardly toward the center ofsaid board and constructed and arranged to loosely receive a pluralityof said objects in a generally, freely movable condition relative toingress to and egress from said portion; blocking means normally inposition blocking and receiving portion to prevent said objects fromentering thereinto or leaving therefrom; and means operable by a playerto selectively move said blocking means out of said blocking position topermit said objects to enter the receiving portion as the playerattempts to catch the propelled objects while preventing an objectrolling down said inclined board toward said propelling means.

2. The game of claim 1 wherein said motive means propels objectsoutwardly therefrom in a plurality of angular directions at randomintermittent intervals, and including a plurality of said receivingpositions and associated blocking means disposed angularly about saidmotive means.

3. The game of claim 2 wherein said plurality of receiving positions andassociated blocking means are disposed at equal spacing about theequidistant from said motive means.

4. The game of claim 2 wherein said motive means comprises a rotatingmember which propels said objects outwardly therefrom.

5. The game of claim 4 wherein said rotating member has means defining atortuous path along which said objects are propelled so as to enhancethe random capabilities of said motive means.

6. The game of claim 2 including a generally flat base portion on whichsaid motive means is mounted generally centrally thereof and along whichsaid objects are propelled, with said receiving positions disposed onthe base portion about the motive means, and said blocking meanscomprises ate members disposed between said motive means and saireceiving positions.

7. The game of claim 6 wherein said gate members are pivoted onhorizontal shafts mounted about said base portion, said shafts havingextension portions for grasping by a player to pivot the gates tounblock the receiving positions.

8. The game of claim 6 wherein said base portion has means defining agenerally horizontal surface extending between said motive means andsaid receiving positions along which said objects are propelled, saidsurface slanting downwardly from the receiving positions to the motivemeans so that the objects return to the motive means if blocked by saidgates.

9. The game of claim 6 wherein said plurality of receiving positions andassociated gates are disposed at equal spacing about the equidistantfrom said motive means.

10. The game of claim 6 wherein said motive means comprises a rotatingmember which propels said objects outwardly therefrom.

11. The game of claim 10 wherein said rotating member has means defininga tortuous path along which said objects are propelled so as to enhancethe random capabilities of said motive means.

12. The game of claim 10 wherein said rotating member is mounted on thebase member on a vertical pivot axis and including a handle portionprojecting upwardly therefrom concentric with axis for grasping by aplayer to spin or rotate said member.

1. A skill-type game comprising a board including motive means forpropelling objects outwardly therefrom at random intermittent intervals,means defining an object receiving portion on said board which is spacedoutwardly from said motive means and in the path of the propelledobjects, said portion being inclined downwardly toward the center ofsaid board and constructed and arranged to loosely receive a pluralityof said objects in a generally, freely movable condition relative toingress to and egress from said portion; blocking means normally inposition blocking and receiving portion to prevent said objects fromentering thereinto or leaving therefrom; and means operable by a playerto selectively move said blocking means out of said blocking position topermit said objects to enter the receiving portion as the playerattempts to catch the propelled objects while preventing an objectrolling down said incliNed board toward said propelling means.
 2. Thegame of claim 1 wherein said motive means propels objects outwardlytherefrom in a plurality of angular directions at random intermittentintervals, and including a plurality of said receiving positions andassociated blocking means disposed angularly about said motive means. 3.The game of claim 2 wherein said plurality of receiving positions andassociated blocking means are disposed at equal spacing about theequidistant from said motive means.
 4. The game of claim 2 wherein saidmotive means comprises a rotating member which propels said objectsoutwardly therefrom.
 5. The game of claim 4 wherein said rotating memberhas means defining a tortuous path along which said objects arepropelled so as to enhance the random capabilities of said motive means.6. The game of claim 2 including a generally flat base portion on whichsaid motive means is mounted generally centrally thereof and along whichsaid objects are propelled, with said receiving positions disposed onthe base portion about the motive means, and said blocking meanscomprises gate members disposed between said motive means and saidreceiving positions.
 7. The game of claim 6 wherein said gate membersare pivoted on horizontal shafts mounted about said base portion, saidshafts having extension portions for grasping by a player to pivot thegates to unblock the receiving positions.
 8. The game of claim 6 whereinsaid base portion has means defining a generally horizontal surfaceextending between said motive means and said receiving positions alongwhich said objects are propelled, said surface slanting downwardly fromthe receiving positions to the motive means so that the objects returnto the motive means if blocked by said gates.
 9. The game of claim 6wherein said plurality of receiving positions and associated gates aredisposed at equal spacing about the equidistant from said motive means.10. The game of claim 6 wherein said motive means comprises a rotatingmember which propels said objects outwardly therefrom.
 11. The game ofclaim 10 wherein said rotating member has means defining a tortuous pathalong which said objects are propelled so as to enhance the randomcapabilities of said motive means.
 12. The game of claim 10 wherein saidrotating member is mounted on the base member on a vertical pivot axisand including a handle portion projecting upwardly therefrom concentricwith axis for grasping by a player to spin or rotate said member.